U.S. patent number 4,620,670 [Application Number 06/652,753] was granted by the patent office on 1986-11-04 for gas-powered nebulizer.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Vortran Corporation. Invention is credited to Nathaniel Hughes.
United States Patent |
4,620,670 |
Hughes |
November 4, 1986 |
Gas-powered nebulizer
Abstract
The nebulizing device (44') and apparatus (10) for supplying
nebulized liquids or powders for inhalation is provided. The device
(44') include a base (108) having a closed bore (50) and an annular
passageway (60) extending from the bore to an outlet (62). At least
one auxiliary passage (62) is provided which extends through the
base from the bore and opens to the passageway. Compressed gas is
supplied through a supply hose (52) to the bore. A liquid port
(118) extends from a liquid supply to the passageway adjacent the
outlet such than when compressed gas is supplied to the bore the
gas flows through the passageway and is discharged from the outlet,
generating a subatmospheric pressure region to draw the liquid
through the port into the passageway, the gas further generating a
vortex action to nebulize the liquid. A plurality of screens (88,
92, 100) may be provided in series to further slow and nebulize the
liquid. The apparatus includes a container (12). A top (22) is
affixed to the container and includes a cavity (40). Nebulized
liquid passes, in series, through the screens which act in
cooperation with the device (44, 44') to provide a nebulized
liquid.
Inventors: |
Hughes; Nathaniel (Palm
Springs, CA) |
Assignee: |
Vortran Corporation (Culver
City, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
24218292 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/652,753 |
Filed: |
September 18, 1984 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
555703 |
Nov 28, 1983 |
|
|
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
239/338; 239/370;
128/200.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
15/0088 (20140204); A61M 15/00 (20130101); A61M
15/0015 (20140204); A61M 11/005 (20130101); A61M
16/125 (20140204); B05B 1/34 (20130101); B05B
7/168 (20130101); A61M 11/06 (20130101); B05B
7/10 (20130101); B05B 7/066 (20130101); A61M
15/0026 (20140204); B05B 7/0012 (20130101); G01F
1/32 (20130101); A61M 2202/064 (20130101); A61M
2209/084 (20130101); Y10S 261/65 (20130101); A61M
2206/14 (20130101); A61M 15/0086 (20130101); A61M
2206/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
15/00 (20060101); B05B 7/16 (20060101); A61M
11/06 (20060101); A61M 011/06 (); B05B
007/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/102,338,370,590,590.3,590.5,DIG.20,DIG.23
;128/200.18,200.21,726 ;261/78A,DIG.65 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Peters, Jr.; Joseph F.
Assistant Examiner: Forman; Michael J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Christie, Parker & Hale
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. application Ser.
No. 555,703, filed Nov. 28, 1983 by Nathaniel Hughes and entitled
"Atomizing Apparatus", the disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated herein.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for nebulizing liquid with a compressed gas
comprising:
a chamber body including a chamber base portion, a chamber bore, a
discharge and a restrictive annular passageway extending from the
chamber bore to the discharge and an auxiliary passage passing
through the chamber base portion from the chamber bore to the
passageway;
a closure for the chamber bore;
means for supplying the compressed gas to the chamber bore;
a liquid port to admit liquid through the chamber base portion to
the discharge to supply liquid thereto, the compressed gas flowing
through the passageway and to the discharge and mixing with the
liquid to nebulize the liquid;
a tubular member comprising a first end adjoining the discharge and
a second end opposite the first end and a screen disposed at the
second end of the tubular member; and
a bluff body spaced from the screen to slow flow of nebulized
liquid and generate vortices wherein the bluff body comprises first
and second ends and is supported at the first and second ends,
respectively, by first and second arms which are supported by the
tubular member and wherein the arms are spreadable for
interchangeably receiving bluff bodies of different sizes.
2. A nebulizer for supplying a nebulized medicament comprising:
a container to retain an amount of medicament and comprising an
ullage, the ullage defining a receiving chamber;
a top connected to the container and including a cavity
communicating at one end with the receiving chamber and terminating
at the other end at an outlet port;
means for generating nebulized medicament into the receiving
chamber;
a first screen disposed adjacent the cavity one end to slow the
flow of nebulized medicament from the receiving chamber to the
cavity and enhance nebulization, wherein the first screen is
supported by a truncated conical collar having a reduced diameter
portion projecting into the receiving chamber, the collar
preventing spillage of the medicament; and
a second screen disposed at the outlet port to further slow the
flow of nebulized medicament as it is discharged from the outlet
port and enhance nebulization.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to atomizers and more particularly atomizers
for nebulizing liquid medicaments for inhalation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Atomizers, nebulizers and the like have been used to produce
sprays, mists or fogs for a variety of uses, both in manufacturing
and in-home use. According to one particular use, medicaments have
been nebulized for inhalation. Medicaments as used herein shall be
understood to include powdered or liquid drugs, solutions,
vaccines, water and the like. In a usual fashion medicaments are
often administered through injection or ingestion. For certain
respiratory problems (i.e., asthma) it has been generally known to
provide for the inhalation of aerosol medicaments. While injection
and ingestion are quite popular in a hospital setting, for home
use, particularly, injection can be troublesome. Associated with
injection are hepatitis, vein collapse and overall discomfort to
the patient.
It is believed that some, if not many, medicaments heretofore
injected or ingested could be better and more conveniently
administered by inhalation. Particularly for respiratory problems,
direct inhalation of the medicament is highly preferred to
injection or ingestion, which both require relatively large dosages
to ensure that a desired amount of the medicament reaches the lungs
or the desired effect takes place therein.
To provide for inhalation, various devices have been developed as
exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,542, issued June 12, 1984 to
Hughes and entitled "Vortex Generating Medical Products". Other
products have also been developed, particularly for nebulizing
medicaments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is, therefore, provided in the practice of the present
invention a device for nebulizing liquid and for supplying such
nebulizing liquid for inhalation which is inexpensive and simple to
manufacture and which is effective in producing a nebulized liquid
useful for inhalation of medicaments.
Toward this end the device includes a base having a closed chamber
and an annular passageway extending from the chamber to an outlet.
At least one auxiliary passage is provided which extends through
the body from the chamber and opens to the passageway. To drive the
device, means are provided for supplying a compressed gas to the
chamber. To supply liquid to the device a liquid conduit extends
from a liquid supply to the passageway adjacent the outlet such
that when compressed gas is supplied to the chamber, the gas flows
through the passageway and is discharged from the outlet,
generating a subatmospheric pressure region to draw the liquid from
the supply through the conduit into the passageway, the gas further
generating a vortex action to nebulize, i.e., atomize, the
liquid.
Acting in concert with the device, a plurality of screens may be
provided in series to further slow fluid flow and break up liquid
droplets and generate further vortices for the efficient
nebulization of the liquid.
To supply a liquid medicament to a patient, the nebulizing device
is incorporated with an apparatus adapted to provide for such
inhalation. The apparatus includes a container to retain an amount
of liquid medicament, the ullage of the container defining a
receiving chamber. A top is affixed to the container and includes a
cavity which communicates at one end with the receiving chamber and
terminates at its other end at an outlet port. Means, such as the
nebulizing device discussed above, for nebulizing the liquid are
provided arranged to discharge the nebulized liquid into the
receiving chamber. To provide for the further nebulization of the
liquid and slowing of the flow, a screen is disposed adjacent the
cavity one end and another screen is disposed at the outlet port.
Accordingly, the nebulized liquid discharged from the nebulizing
means occupies the receiving chamber and thereafter passes, in
series, through the screens which act in cooperation with the
nebulizing means to provide a nebulized liquid at the outlet port
for inhalation. This embodiment is also suitable to supply
nebulized powders.
If desired, an inhalation mouthpiece may be provided at the outlet
port, the mouthpiece being adapted to be received into the
patient's mouth for inhalation. In conjunction with the mouthpiece,
means such as a check valve or the like, may be included in the
apparatus so that when the patient inhales at the mouthpiece the
check valve admits ambient air (or breathing oxygen if the
apparatus is incorporated into an oxygen supply) to augment the
volume of nebulized medicament produced so that the patient may
inhale a full breath. In addition, the air or oxygen admitted
through the check valve tends to sweep the atomized medicament to
the mouthpiece.
To atomize the medicament, means are provided to atomize the liquid
medicament into droplets, each preferably of a diameter between 1-3
microns monodispersed. Droplets in this size range are
indispensable to proper penetration and coating of the receptor
sites in the bronchial tree to properly and fully medicate the
patient.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features and advantages of the present invention
will become appreciated as the same becomes better understood with
reference to the specification, claims and drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side view of an apparatus for the inhalation of
nebulized medicament;
FIG. 2 is a side section view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial view of the apparatus similar to FIG. 1 showing
a further embodiment of the container for the apparatus;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged side section view of a portion of the
apparatus showing a further embodiment of the means for atomizing
the medicament;
FIG. 5 is a view of the apparatus similar to that of FIG. 4 showing
yet another embodiment of the means for atomizing the
medicament;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged side section view of a device for nebulizing
a liquid such as medicaments and the like; and
FIG. 7 is a section view of the device of FIG. 6 rotated 90.degree.
from the view of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2, an apparatus 10 is shown which is adapted
for the inhalation of nebulized medicaments. The apparatus 10
includes a container 12 which may be fashioned from glass or
plastic and which is open at one end and has a contoured bottom 14
at the other end. The contoured bottom defines a well 16 suitable
for holding an amount of medicament 17, the well having a lowermost
apex 18 so that substantially all the medicament may be nebulized
as hereinafter set forth. The ullage above the medicament defines a
receiving chamber 20 adapted to receive nebulized medicament.
The apparatus 10 also includes a top 22 having a cylindrical and
hollow portion defining a trunk 24 with an open end 26 adapted to
register with the receiving chamber 20. Opposite the open end 26
the trunk is closed.
To affix the top 22 to the container 12, suitable connection means
are provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a bayonette-type
connection 28 may be provided or, as shown in FIG. 4, a suitable
snap connection 30 may be employed. As shown, the snap connection
30 includes an outwardly extending lip 32 extending about the
circumference of the open end of the container 12 while the top 22
includes a circumferential ring 34 having several or preferably a
continuous, inwardly directed tab 36 adapted to snap over the lip
32, thereby connecting the top 22 to the container 12.
To provide a discharge for the nebulized medicament, the top 22
has, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a radially positioned, hollow
outlet port 38. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that the top 22
includes a cavity 40 which extends from the open end 26 to the
outlet port 38. As described below, the nebulized medicament passes
from the receiving chamber 20 through the cavity 40 for inhalation
thereof.
To provide a stand for the apparatus 10, a conical skirt 42, as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, may be affixed to the container 12 adjacent
the bottom 14. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the skirt 42 may
be a continuation of the container 12 with the bottom 14, shown as
bottom 14' in FIG. 3 being affixed by sonic welding or via an
adhesive within the container 12.
To nebulize, i.e. atomize, the medicament, the apparatus 10 has
incorporated therein nebulizing means shown in FIG. 2 as a
nebulizer 44. The nebulizer 44 is adapted, along with the other
components within the apparatus 10, to transform the liquid
medicament into droplets of a size within the range of 1-3 microns
monodispersed. This range of droplet size is believed to be the
only way to efficiently disperse the medicament, when inhaled,
throughout the lungs and to the alveolae thereof.
The nebulizer 44, as shown in FIG. 4, includes a chamber body 46
and an insert or base 48 which are preferably injection-molded
parts. A chamber or large cylindrical bore 50 and a small
cylindrical bore 52, which opens into bore 50, are formed in body
46. Bores 50 and 52 lie on intersecting orthogonal axes. Body 46
includes a hollow, cylindrical rod 54 that extends the length of
bore 50 in axial alignment therewith. A small cylindrical bore 56
is formed in body 46 behind rod 54. Bores 52 and 56 lie on parallel
axes. A bore 58 extends through rod 54 from bore 56 to the exterior
end of bore 50.
Insert 48 fits into bore 50 where it is cemented or otherwise
suitably affixed in place. A cylindrical aperture 60, which has a
slightly larger diameter than rod 54, is formed in insert 48. Rod
54 extends through aperture 60 in axial alignment therewith to form
therebetween a small annular passage. The open end of bore 58 is
preferably recessed slightly from the exit end of aperture 60. The
interior end of insert 48 has a conical concavity and the exterior
end thereof has a spherical convexity. A conical concavity is
formed between the center of convexity and aperture 60 defining a
discharge 62 for the body 44.
Oppositely disposed radial bores 64 extend through insert 48 from
its periphery to bore 78. A pair of oppositely disposed axial bores
66 extend through insert from its concavity to radial bores 64,
thereby forming with bores 64 a pair of auxiliary passages. Liquid
medicament is delivered by a conduit 68 and a coupling 70 to bore
56 which serves as the liquid inlet of the nebulizer 44. Bore 52
serves as a gas inlet to receive pressurized gas from a hose 72
(FIG. 1). The hose 72 extends from a source of pressurized gas (not
shown) which may be air, oxygen, freon, liquified gas propellant or
other gas suitable for inhalation.
To provide for the connection of the hose 72 to the apparatus 10, a
fitting 74 is affixed to the container 12 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2
and 3. The fitting 74 includes an external portion which the hose
72 slips over for connection thereto. Within the container 12 the
fitting has a finger 76 adapted to connect into the bore 52 or
about the body (FIG. 3) and to support the nebulizer 44 within the
chamber 20. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fitting
74 may be embodied as an external portion formed as part of the
container 12 and adapted to connect the hose 72. In this instance,
the body 46 includes an extension received into the external
portion to support the nebulizer 44. Accordingly, pressurized gas
supplied via the hose 72 is communicated by the fitting 74 to the
bore 52 and to bore 50.
Bore 50 serves as an upstream section of a flow passage while
aperture 60 serves as a restriction in the flow passage. Discharge
62 serves as the outlet of vortex generating nebulizer 44. Bores
50, aperture 60, and discharge 62 all are aligned with a flow axis.
The gas inlet is aligned with an inlet axis that intersects the
flow axis at a right angle.
The nebulizer 44, as shown in FIG. 2, further includes a spin
chamber 78 embodied as a tubular member 80 having a cylindrical
inner surface aligned with the flow axis of the nebulizer. At one
end member 80 is connected to body 46. At the other end, the member
80 opens into the receiving chamber 20.
To enhance nebulization of the liquid, means are provided to slow
the fluid discharged from the nebulizer 44. These means include a
drag bar 82 and, in a one-piece construction, a bluff body or
cylindrical drag member 84. Drag member 84 is connected by a
support arm 86 to the tubular member 80 and is so mounted relative
to the spin chamber 78 that the cylindrical axis of drag member 84
lies at a right angle to the flow axis of the gas through the spin
chamber 78.
Briefly, pressurized gas from a source is introduced into the
nebulizer through gas inlet bore 52. The gas forms rapidly spinning
vortices in the upstream section of the flow passage. The
vortically flowing gas travels through the restriction formed by
aperture 60 and rod 54 and through the auxiliary passages so as to
converge near the open end of rod 54 where the rapidly moving gas
meets liquid supplied through rod 54. The gas thus entrains and
nebulizes the liquid to form liquid particles in the gas on the
order of about 1-10 microns. At the discharge 62 a subatmospheric
pressure is produced that draws liquid through rod 54 and causes
cavitation in this liquid as it emanates from the end of rod 54.
Liquid nebulization is enhanced by a supersonic process taking
place in the nebulizer. As a result, shock waves are formed as the
gas exits aperture 60 and sonic energy in addition to vortex energy
is present in spin chamber 78.
At very low flow velocities, i.e., Reynolds numbers, the drag
coefficient, and thus the drag forces, increase rapidly. At such
low Reynolds numbers, viscosity is a predominant parameter in
determining drag and viscosity effects dominate over gravitational
effects.
Drag member 84 presents drag to and induces vortex action in the
gas and liquid stream and it sets up a standard sonic wave field to
further break up the droplets as the fluid is discharged into and
occupies the receiving chamber 20. From the receiving chamber 20
the nebulized medicament-gas mix (i.e., fluid) passes through the
container open end, the passageway 40 and to the outlet port 38 for
inhalation.
To further slow fluid velocity and drag to generate additional
vortices and to break up droplets of medicament, the apparatus 10
includes a first screen 88 disposed near the connection between the
top 22 and the container 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the first screen
88 may be disposed at the base of an inverted, frustro-conical
collar 90 supported by the trunk 24. Alternatively, as shown in
FIG. 4. the first screen 88 may be disposed at the frustrum of the
collar 90. In the event that the apparatus 10 is tipped over, the
collar will prevent loss of medicament. The collar 90 may be made
of resilient material to provide a sealing function between the top
22 and container 12.
To still further slow the fluid flow, increase drag and break up
droplets, the apparatus 10 includes a second screen 92 disposed at
the outlet port 38. The nebulized medicament flowing from the
receiving chamber through the first screen 88 and cavity 40 passes
through the second screen 92 for inhalation thereof. At the
discharge of the outlet port the effective size of the liquid
droplets has been reduced such that most of the droplets have a
diameter of 1-3 microns monodispersed. The flow of the nebulized
medicament has also been slowed which is advantageous for
inhalation. Each of the first and second screens may be made of
wire or nylon mesh or a square grid fashioned such that the spacing
between adjacent parallel strands is about 0.06 inch (1.524
mm).
To provide for the ease of inhalation, the apparatus 10 may include
a mouthpiece 94 having a suitable bite 96 for reception into the
patient's mouth. Accordingly, the nebulizer medicament may be drawn
from the passageway 40 through the outlet port 38 and hollow
mouthpiece 94 into the patient's lungs.
To augment the volume of gas/nebulized medicament produced by the
nebulizer and present within the apparatus 10, means are provided
for introducing a further source of gas such as air or oxygen. As
shown in FIG. 2, these means may be embodied as a check valve 98 of
the flapper type adapted to prevent release of nebulized
medicament. However, upon inhalation at the mouthpiece 94, the
check valve 98 will open permitting outside air to be drawn into
the top 22 and, more particularly, the passageway 40 so that a
full, deep breath may be drawn at the mouthpiece to distribute the
medicament throughout the lungs. It is to be understood that an
oxygen source, such as a hose, may be connected to the check valve
98 such that, upon inhalation, oxygen provides the additional
volume necessary to constitute a deep breath.
Turning to FIG. 4, modifications are shown for enhancement of the
nebulization of the medicament. According to this embodiment, a
third screen 100 is disposed at the terminus of the tubular member
80 and between the discharge 62 and drag member 84. The third
screen is adapted to slow the fluid leaving the discharge 62,
generate vortices and resonate sound waves to break up droplets.
Connected to the tubular member 80 are a pair of oppositely
disposed arms 102, each having at its end a foot 104 including a
notch 106. To cooperate with the arms 102, the drag member shown as
84' is embodied as a length of cylindrical conduit which may be
snapped between and into the notches of the arms 102. By providing
the arms 102, drag members 84' of differing diameters may be freely
interchanged to achieve the desired drag and vortex producing
effect based upon, for example, the viscosity of the medicament or
other factors.
Turning to FIGS. 5-7, still another embodiment of the apparatus 10
and, more particularly, the nebulizer 40 incorporated therein will
be described. Elements similar to those described above will carry
the same reference numerals, whereas those modified elements will
carry a prime (') designation.
The nebulizer 44 has a body 44' including a base portion 108 having
fashioned therein the bore 50. The base portion 108 may be
injection molded plastic or the like. The bore 50 terminates at one
end at a conical concavity 110, itself terminating at the aperture
60. The cylindrical aperture 60 is arranged to be coaxial with the
bore 50. The aperture 60 intersects the coaxially arranged,
conically diverging discharge 62. The small cylindrical bore 52 is
fashioned in the base portion 108 and, as described above, is
adapted to admit pressurized gas into the bore 50. The pressurized
gas spins within the bore 50 and is discharged therefrom via the
aperture 60 and discharge 62.
To induce the vortex action, a cap 112 is affixed and mates with a
countersink 114 fashioned in the base portion 108. The cap 112 is
adapted to close and seal the bore 50. Extending axially from the
cap 12 is a solid cylindrical rod 54' which passes axially through
the bore 50 into the aperture 60 to terminate just short of the
discharge 62. The annular space about the rod 54' within the
aperture 60 defines an annular passageway 116 which acts as a
restriction to induce and enhance the vortex action.
Oppositely directed radial bores 64 extend through the base portion
108 from its periphery to aperture 60. A pair of oppositely
disposed axial bores 66 extend through the base portion 108 from
concavity 110 to the radial bores 64, thereby forming with bores 64
a pair of auxiliary passages. Accordingly, the pressurized gas
flows through these auxilary passages to the aperture 60.
To introduce the liquid medicament to the nebulizer 44', the base
portion 108' includes a liquid port 118 extending through the
insert to terminate at the intersection between the aperture 60 and
the discharge 62. From the liquid port 118 a small tube 120 extends
downwardly to the well 16 to draw liquid medicament upward to the
nebulizer 44'. Unlike the embodiment described above, the
introduction of liquid does not require elaborate molding or
manufacturing methods necessary to fashion the hollow rod 54 or the
bore 56. According to this embodiment, the liquid port 118 can
simply be drilled or otherwise fashioned (i.e., laser drill)
through the insert 48' to terminate at the aperture and discharge.
In order to accommodate the liquid port, the insert 48' is
fashioned to have at the conical discharge 62 a built-up portion
122 so that the liquid port 118 discharges radially into the
aperture 60 and discharge 62.
It is to be understood that the device and its various embodiments
described above are suitable for nebulizing other liquids such as
paint or others where a fine spray is desirable. Additionally, by
placing finely ground powders (medicaments or others) in the
container, these powders may also be delivered. For delivery of
powders the liquid port 118 or bore 56 are blocked and the bluff
body 84, 84' may be removed. The vortex and shock wave action
generated by the nebulizer lifts and vibrates the powder for
delivery from the device to, if the powder is a medicament, the
patient's lungs.
While I have shown and described certain embodiments of the present
invention, it is to be understood that it is subject to many
modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *